Separation of gases



Feb. 5, 1946. N. c. BEESE 2,394,357

SEPARATION OE GASES Filed Aug. 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 5, 1946. N. c. lE1-:SE 2,394,357

SEPARATION OF GASES Filed Aug. 25, 19:59 2 sheets-sheet 2VY ENTOR ATTORNEY n Patented Feb. s, 194s iran vs'rA'llais 2,394,357 SEPARATION oF GASES Norman Carl Beese, Verona, N. J., assigner to WestinghouseElectric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 25, 1939, Serial No. 291,871

l2 Claims.

This invention relates to the separation or purication of gases, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for separating the heavier from the lighter components of gases.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is the separation of the heavier and lighter components of gases in a convenient o of the gravitational diierence between the components of gases by rotation, so that the heavier component is thrown to the periphery, leaving the lighter component near the axis.

Another feature of my invention is the employment of arthermal gradient vacross the gas, in order to cause an agitation effecting separation of the gas into its components.

A further feature of my invention is the provision of apparatus for separating the heavier and lighter components of gases, comprising a rotatablecylindricalY chamber, the diameter of which is largeas compared with its axial dimension, and rotating said chamber at high speed while maintaining one end wall at a temperature difference as compared with the other end wall, thereby preferably producing a temperaturel gradient of about 125 C. axially through the line IIL-III of Figure 1, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view, on the line IV-IV of Figure 1, in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being `designated by like reference characters,

' there is shown a centrifugal machine I Il, comprising a base I I mounted on a platform or other support I2, andl secured thereto by means of bolts I3. 'I'he base II carries a lower conical roller bearing I4, in which rotates a normally vertical shaft I5 carrying a cone of drive pulleys I6, operated by a belt I'I from an electric motor (not shown) or other source of power.

In orderv to maintain the shaft I5 vertical, and provide for the support of the necessary upper bal1\or roller bearing I8, apertures I9 are provided in the upper wall 2| of the base II for receiving -the -reduced sections 22 of standards 23, the upper ends of which are similarly reduced, as indicated at 24, and enter a collar 25 which carries the roller bearing (I8. The standards 23 are secured to the base II in any desired manner, as by means of nuts 26 threadably engaging the lower ends thereof` and adapted to tighten into engagement with the lower surface of the wall 2|.

The upper end portion of the shaft I5 carries a pair of normally horizontal, generally circular, plates 21 and 28, of brass or other material 'of sufficiently high heat conductivity to provide for' eflicient heat transfer and maintenance of substantially uniform temperature throughout said plates. These plates are desirably grooved, as indicated at 29, 3|, 32, 33, 34 and 35, to provide annular conduit 36, and nearly completely annular conduits 31 and 38, connected to ports 39, 4I and 42 in said shaft I5 by means 'of radial ducts 43, 44 and 45, in order to provide for the supply of gas to be treated and -the withdrawal of the components into which said gas is separated, and sufliciently thick topermit operating the device above or below atmospheric pressure. The two parts 21 and 28 are soldered, or otherwise securely connected, to isolate the gas conduits and provide for good thermal conductivity therebetween. The conduits communicate with a chamber 46, 'defined by the plate 21 and a generally circular, flanged cover plate 41 of sim-y ilar material, secured thereto as by means of lbolts 48. The body portions of the plates 41 and 21 are preferably spaced a distance small,

character and size to substantially heat-insulate l the coverplate41 from the composite bottom plate 2l-2B. A peripheral rib or ribs 50 may be provided on the cover 41 to minimize the transfer of heat therefrom to the bottom plate.

Air or other gas to be separated, desirably at a pressure of about one half atmospheraor between 20 and 40 centimeters of mercury is introduced to the chamber 46y through supply pipe 55, valve55, supply port 4I, duct 44, conduit 31, and out of a series of ,ports 51, from which the gas-is distributed when the machine is in operation. The heavier component (or compo.

nents) of the air, or other gas to be separated, is withdrawn through the outlet ports 58, conduit 36, radial duct 43, port 39, through valve 59, and outlet pipe 5|,at a higher pressure, because of the centrifugal action. The pressure may still be below atmospheric, necessitating a vacuum pump. In a similar way, the lighter component (or components) of the air or gas is withdrawn from the chamber 46 through ports 62, conduit 38,`radial duct 45, conduit42, valve 63, and outlet pipe 64, as by means of a vacuum Dump.

In order to maintain a desired temperature gradient across the chamber 46, in the present instance, I provide for cooling the lower plates 21 and 28, as uniformly as possible, as by means of jets of chilled air or water 65, issuing from axially extending underlying pipes B6, fed from annular collar 61, supported from the standards 23 as by means of clamps 68. The upper wall or plate 41 of the chamber 46 is, in the present instance, heated, as uniformly as possible, as by a plurality of radiant heaters 69, disposed in suitable reflectors 1l, and supported thereover from a standard 12, adjustably positioned in a base 13,

by means of a 'set screw 14, and supplied with' suitable energy by means of an electric cable 15. In practicing the process of my invention, the

cooling medium, desirably chilled to about 15 C., is supplied from insulated pipe 16 to the jets 55, while the chamber 46 is rotated at high speed by means of the belt i1 from the electric motor previously referred to. The speed of rotation is desirably from 3000 to 5000 R. P. M. At the same time the source of heat 69 keeps thel upper wall il at a relatively high temperature, desirably at pass out of the ports 58 to the outlet pipe 6|, and

the lighter component to pass through the ports 62 to the outlet pipe 64.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be seen that I have provided for the continuous separa` tion of the heavier and lighter components of gas in a convenient and expeditious manner. The

, main featureis the centrifugal separation of the tion has been disclosed, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of separating the heavier and lighter components of a gas, comprising introducing .said gas into a chamber formed by platesdisposed opposite one another and maintained at diierent temperatures, rotating said chamber, and drawing the lighter component oif from the axial portion and the heavier component off from the peripheral portion of said chamber.

2. The method of separating the heavier and lighter components of a gas, comprising introducing said gas into a chamber, formed by plates positioned opposite one another and maintained at different temperatures, intermediate the periphery and axis of said chamber, rotating said chamber, and withdrawing the lighter component from the axial portion and the heavier component from the peripheral portion of said chamber.

J3. The method of separating the heavier and lighter components of a gas, comprising introducing said gas into a chamber formed by closely spaced plates maintained at different temperatures, rotating said chamber at high speed in order to cause the heavier component to be thrown to the periphery by centrifugal force, and withdrawing the heavier component from said peripheral portion and the lighter component from the axial portion of said'chamber.

4. The method .of separating the heavier and lighter components of a gas comprising introduc'.

ing said gas into a chamber'formed of plates.' generally parallel to one another and maintained at a temperature diierence of about 125 C., in order to maintain a relatively sharp temperature gradient through said gas, rotating said chamber about an axis substantially perpendicular to said plates, and drawing oi the lighter component from the axial portion and the heavier component from the peripheral portion of said'chamber. 5. The method'of separating the heavier and lighter components of a gas, comprising introducing said gas into a chamber formed by plates, generally parallel to one another and maintained at a difference in temperature of approximately 125 C., intermediate the periphery and axis of said chamber, rotating said chamberat a speed of between 3,000 and 5,000 R. P. M. and withdrawing the lighter component from the axial components in a manner somewhat similar to that in which cream is separated from milk, the

difference being that the gases which maybe treated do not ordinarily separate gravitationally.

yThe centrifugal separation in the present' instance is made possible by thermal agitation caused by maintaining a relatively steep temperature gradient across the gas while separating the components. The thermal gradient established by one hot wall andan opposite cold wall causes a. differential concentration of the gaseous come ponents. 'I'his thermal diffusion causes a lamellar flow of light gas along the heated wall to.. ward the axis of rotation, and a .corresponding lamellar `flow of heavy gas along the cold wall portion, and the heavier component(w from the peripheraLportion of said chamber while ro- 1 tating. l

6. Apparatus #for separating the vheavier and vlighter components of agas, comprising a chamber, means for maintaining opposite ,walls ofsaid `chamber at different temperatures. means for rotating said chamber, and means for drawing the lighter-component oi from the axial portion.

and the heavier component oir from the peripheral portion, of said chamber.

` a gas into said chamber intermediate the periphtoward the periphery, thereby facilitating separation of the components.

Although I have shown the flat, cylindrical 'gas chamber as disposed with its axis vertical, it will Although a preferred embodiment of my invenery and axis thereof, means for rotating said chamber, and means for withdrawing the lighter component from the axial portion, and the heavier component from the peripheral portion. ofsaid chamber.

8. Apparatus for separating the heavier and 15 lighter components of a.f gas, comprising a rotatable chamber formed or generally circular plates spaced at a distance small compared with i shaft mounted in said bearing, standards extendperipheral portion, and means for withdrawing the lighter component from the axial portion of said chamber.

9. Apparatus for separating the heavier and lighter components oi a gas, comprising a chamber formed of plates disposed generally parallel to one another, means for maintaining said plates ,at a temperature dierence of about 125 C.,

means for rotating said chamber about an axis substantially perpendicular to said plates. means for drawing od the lighter component from the .axial portion of said chamber, and means for drawing oi! the heavier component from the peripheral portion of said chamber.

lo. Apparatus for separating the heavier and lighter components of a gas. comprising a chamber formed of plates disposed generally parallel 25,

to oneanother, one oi' said plates having a peripheral ilange connected to the opposite plate, means for heating said flanged plate and cooling the other plate in order to maintain a difference in temperature of approximately 125 C., means for introducing gas into said chamber intermediate the periphery'and axis thereof, means for rotating said chamber at a speed oi between 3000 and5000 R. P; M., means i'or withdrawing the lighter component of said gas from the axial portion of said chamber, and means for withdrawing the heavier component thereoi' from the peripheral portion of said chamber. while the same is rotating.y

p 11, ssamm :or separating the heavier and lighter components of a gas. comprising a base, a hearing in the top. wall o! said base, a vertical ing from said base and supporting an upper bearing for said shaft. a chamber mounted on the top of said shaft and comprising a lower wall dening peripheral, intermediate and axial conduits for gas, said shalt having-three Ports extending therealong, one connected to said peripheral conduit, one to said intermediate conduit and one to said axial conduit, collars supported by saidstandards around said shaft and pipes carried by said collars and respectively commu nicating with said ports in order to allow for the introduction and removalof gas, a cover plate 35 ent temperatures.

completing said chamber and connected to said conduit-carrying plates. and means for cooling one surface of said chamber and heating the other surface. t

12. 'Apparatus for separating heavier and lighter components or a gas, comprising an upright shaftmoimted for rotation about its axis, a

chamber'secured to said shalt and comprising a y l wall defining peripheral. intermediate and axial conduits for gas, said'- shafthaving ports extending therealong, one connected to each or said conduits, collars supported around said shaft, and pipes carried -by said collars and respectively communicating with said ports' in order to allow for the introduction and removal oi gas, a cover plate completing said chamber and connected to said conduit-cimirlnir` plates, and means' i'or maintaining said lower wall and cover at diner- 

